Politics & Government
Mount Vernon Police Department Receives Accreditation
The hard work of the MVPD is recognized in Albany by The New York Law Enforcement Accreditation Council
Left to right: Mount Vernon Police Officer Karen Buddenhagen, Chief Richton Ziadie and Detective Michael Plunkett at this morning’s ceremony.
MOUNT VERNON – The New York Law Enforcement Accreditation Council gave the Mount Vernon Police Department an accreditation this morning in Albany.
Accreditation is a progressive and contemporary way of helping police agencies evaluate and improve their overall performance. It provides formal recognition that an organization meets or exceeds general expectations of quality in the field. Accreditation also acknowledges the implementation of policies that are conceptually sound and operationally effective.
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“We’ve come a long way from 2015 when crime was out of control,” said Mayor Richard Thomas. “Today, under my leadership, Mount Vernon is safer and has reclaimed its distinguished honor as an accredited police department. It’s an affirmation of all the steps taken to change the culture of the police department, implement 21st-century policing and build trust on both sides of the badge.”
The fall in crime is documented in Mount Vernon’s Uniform Crime Reports. For example, serious crimes including grand larceny, burglary, aggravated assaults and robberies fell from a reported 1,350 incidents in 2011 to 918 in 2017, a 32% decline.
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As a result of all the hard work, median home sales prices has increased by 24% in the past year, the economy grew and quality of life has gotten stronger, said Mayor Thomas.
In December, Mayor Thomas announced that shootings in the city had been cut almost in half in 2018.
- Total shootings were down 42%; from 52 in 2017 to 30 in 2018.
- Shootings that resulted in injuries were down 50%; from 24 in 2017 to 12 in 2018.
- Shootings with no injuries were down 36%; 26 in 2017 to 18 in 2018.
“Mayor Thomas made it happen due to his leadership and executive management,” said Mount Vernon Police Chief Richton Ziadie. “He did not shy away from making a series of tough decisions to transform the Mount Vernon Police Department.”
